For individuals with diabetes, foot care is a crucial aspect of managing the condition and preventing serious complications. Proper foot care can help avoid infections, ulcers, and even amputations. If you aren’t taking care of your feet, you can run the risk of dealing with severe complications and impacting your overall health. Foot care is a crucial part of diabetes management and should be taken seriously.
Taking Care of Diabetic Feet
When you’re living with diabetes, it’s important that you’re taking steps to manage your condition and avoid complications as best as possible. Part of diabetes management is making sure that your feet are taken care of. This is because a side effect of diabetes is neuropathy, which causes numbness in the extremities. One of the most important things is to check your feet daily for any signs of cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or nail problems. You can use a mirror or ask someone to help if you have trouble seeing all parts of your feet. It’s important to seek help for any issues you discover as soon as possible to avoid infection.
Foot hygiene is crucial. You should be washing your feet daily with lukewarm water and mild soap, and drying them thoroughly, especially between the toes. This helps keep your feet clean and free of any infections. You should also be applying lotion to the tops and bottoms of your feet to keep the skin soft and prevent cracking. Avoid putting lotion between your toes, as this can encourage fungal growth.
Cut your toenails straight across and filing the edges to prevent ingrown nails. If you have difficulty doing this, consider seeing a healthcare professional. This helps prevent ingrown toenails, which can often cause infections. Schedule regular visits with your doctor or podiatrist to monitor your foot health and manage any emerging issues.
Contact Our Podiatrist Today
Make sure you’re taking diabetic foot care seriously. Contact your podiatrist to learn more about caring for diabetic feet.